Understanding the biodiversity near our operations is key to managing and mitigating our impacts. On the North Slope of Alaska, we conduct numerous long-term studies to understand the birds, mammals and fish species in our area of operations.
The Greater White-fronted Goose, or Nigliq in Inupiat, is commonly found near our CD-5 drill site and is a valued subsistence resource for the people in nearby Nuiqsut. Not only are the birds harvested, but Niqliq eggs are also collected for consumption. As we began developing CD-5, the first oil and gas development in the northeast National Petroleum Reserve Alaska (NPR-A), the community was concerned about the potential effects of habitat modification and disturbance from construction in the area. As part of the permitting process for the project, the North Slope Borough required a multi-year study of the potential effects of development on the Greater White-fronted Goose as an indicator species for the area.
The specific objectives of this study were to:
- Record the abundance, distribution, and fate of nests of White-fronted Geese, and evaluate the relationships of these variables to the distance of potential disturbance sources and phases of development.
- Monitor a sample of nesting geese for changes in incubation behavior that may result from activities at the CD-5 development.
- Identify changes in the occurrence and frequency of nest predators during all phases of development.
40 fixed plots were established within a 6x6 kilometer grid centered around the CD-5 drill site. Nest searches were conducted on foot for 10 days in June of each study year once eggs had been laid. Nest location, type of tundra habitat and number of eggs were recorded, and a sample of eggs were inspected to determine estimated nest age and start of incubation. Temperature-sensing thermistors embedded in artificial eggs were placed in approximately 41 nests to provide ongoing information on incubation activity, nest survival and hatch or failure dates. In 2019, 10 time-lapse cameras were also deployed to record incubation behavior of geese on nests and visits by predators.
Predevelopment surveying in 2013 found approximately 22 nests per square kilometer. During construction, nest densities increased to approximately 29 in 2014 and 30 in 2015. In the second year of operations, the nest density had increased to 38. Overall nest survival improved during construction and then decreased to slightly higher than the 2013 sample year. The average apparent nesting success (the proportion of nests hatching ≥1 egg) for White-fronted Geese over 5 years was 65%. Nesting success was low in 2013, 2014, and 2017, ranging from 53 to 58%. In 2015 and 2019, nesting success was higher at 79% to 83%.
To evaluate whether human activity such as traffic and construction affected nesting success of White-fronted Geese, we
examined the proximity of oilfield facilities to nests that failed to hatch compared to those that hatched. Our hypothesis was that geese nesting closer to facilities during times with higher levels of human activity would be more likely to fail due to disturbances causing geese to flush or leave the nest more often or for longer, making them more vulnerable to predation. In 2013, before any construction in the CD-5 area, there was essentially no difference between successful and failed nests and their distance to the future location of roads and pads. While roads and pads were constructed the following winter, there was little vehicle traffic during the 2014 breeding season. Activity on CD-5 roads and pads was highest in 2015. Contrary to the expected disturbance response, in both 2014 and 2015, successful nests were nearer to the road and pad than were failed nests. In 2017, during operational use of roads and pads, failed nests were closer on average to roads and pads than were successful nests. In 2019, the final operational year in the study, the average distances of successful and failed nests to roads and pads were nearly the same. Thus, there was no consistent relationship between nest success and proximity to facilities by development phase.
White-fronted Geese are an important part of the arctic food chain so scans for avian and mammal predators were also conducted. In all years of this study, gulls and jaegers were the most abundant and widespread nest predators observed during both predator scans and incidental observations on nest plots. Arctic fox was the only mammal observed on plot during predator scans and it was observed only once in 2015. Grizzly bears and arctic and red foxes were observed more often off plot during predator scans or incidentally (during nest searching) each year, but less than five mammals were observed during predator scans and incidentally during nest searches in any year.
Yearly findings were shared with the community, stakeholder groups, the research community and North Slope Borough. The study is also currently going through the scientific peer review process for journal publication. Populations of White-fronted Geese are on the rise in the Arctic, and other studies conducted elsewhere on the North Slope have demonstrated similar results – the geese are fairly resilient and appear to be largely unaffected by industrial activity. ConocoPhillips has a strong commitment to promote and protect the wildlife in our area of operations and this is continually reinforced to workers in the field. Wildlife, including the Greater White-fronted Goose, always have the right-of-way, and our employees love seeing these beautiful birds while out in the field. While this study is complete, we continue to monitor the avian species in and around our areas of operations.